Religion & Law

Maryland Senate Committee approves marriage redefinition bill

Posted on February 17, 2011
"The 7-to-4 vote by the Judicial Proceedings Committee sends the bill the Senate floor, where a lengthy and emotional debate is expected next week on the most high-profile social issue facing lawmakers during their 90-day session."

?Death panels?: Canadian court rules baby?s life support removed against parents? wishes

Posted on February 17, 2011
LifeSiteNews: "One-year-old Joseph Maraachli of Windsor, Ontario will have his life support removed Monday at 10 am. after the Ontario Superior Court today rejected an appeal by the parents to bring him home where he can die under their care."

David Cameron must end this subservience to Europe

Posted on February 17, 2011
Daily Mail: "Whatever else this Government might achieve I was not expecting a reassertion of Parliamentary sovereignty to be on the list. My pessimism was based on the coalition with the Lib Dems - a party which regards fighting for our national independence as a thoroughly outdated concept...

Russia: Muslim Headdresses Test Faith, Tolerance

Posted on February 17, 2011
Moscow Times: "After twin attacks by female suicide bombers killed 40 people in the Moscow metro last March, media reports warned that women sporting a Muslim headdress in public may face verbal or even physical attacks.'

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Alaska governor refusing to enact health care law

Posted on February 17, 2011
AP on Google: "Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said he will not implement the federal health care overhaul after a judge in Florida struck down the law as unconstitutional."

4th Circuit Finds Maryland Strip Club Law Overbroad

Posted on February 17, 2011
Blog of the Legal Times: In Legend Night Club v. Miller, [No. 09-1540] the panel majority affirmed a permanent injunction against enforcement of the law that was imposed in 2009 by a federal district court . . . The law limits the range of permissible conduct, attire and entertainment at establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages ...

Iowa wrestling standout refuses to wrestle girl

Posted on February 17, 2011
AP: "But in a news release, he said he defaulted on his match with Herkelman because he doesn't think boys and girls should compete in the sport."

WV: ?Gay miner to push for anti-discrimination bills?

Posted on February 17, 2011
WV Gazette: "Sam Hall, the gay miner who sued a Massey subsidiary in December, will be at the Statehouse on Monday. He?s scheduled to appear at a 9 a.m. press conference organized by the group Fairness West Virginia to push for a pair of bills (SB226 and HB2045) that would add age and sexual orientation to the state?s Human Rights Act...

Stearns Plans to Call HHS Secretary Sebelius to Testify on Planned Parenthood?s Tolerance of Criminal Behavior

Posted on February 17, 2011
Christian Newswire: "In response to videos produced by Live Action showing Planned Parenthood workers willing to conspire in sex trafficking, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) joined other members in calling for the defunding of that organization. At a news conference last week hosted by Live Action and Susan B...

Pro-Life bills fail in Virginia Senate committee

Posted on February 17, 2011
WDBJ7.com: "The Senate Education and Health Committee on Thursday killed bills to regulate abortion clinics and prohibit health insurance plans established through the federal health care legislation from covering abortions." | Related Life News report: Virginia Senate Kills Bill to Cut Abortion Funds in Obamacare

MA: State education commissioner recommends 17 new charter schools

Posted on February 17, 2011
Boston Globe: "Massachusetts education commissioner Mitchell Chester today endorsed 17 out 23 applications to launch new charter schools, including 10 in Boston."

NARAL leader funded lavish lifestyle with organization?s funds, says audit

Posted on February 17, 2011
LifeSiteNews: "The Capitol Tonight report says the audit shows Conlin used NARAL?s credit cards to purchase over $5000 in clothing from retailers like Giorgio Armani, a $17,000 summer rental in the Hamptons in 2009, and $22,000 in meals."

Montana Bill Would Give Parents Control of Sex Ed

Posted on February 17, 2011
Stuart Shepard reports at Citizen Link (Audio).

Poll: Support For Labor Unions Remains At Near-Historic Low

Posted on February 17, 2011
TPM: "Only 45% of respondents in the poll said they viewed unions favorably, while nearly as many, 41%, said they had an unfavorable opinion of unions."

Supreme Court to Consider Two Important Campaign Finance Cases Friday

Posted on February 17, 2011
The Supreme Court will decide on Friday whether to hear two campaign finance cases filed by the James Madison Center for Free Speech to protect vital First Amendment rights.

Idaho: Anti-union bills pass despite worker protest

Posted on February 17, 2011
Bloomberg: "The first bill seeks to prohibit so-called 'project labor agreements' that require contractors to forge pacts with unionized workers as a condition of winning a government construction job . . . Under the second bill, unions would be prohibited from using dues to subsidize member wages to help union-shop contractors win projects...

UC-Davis ousts religious discrimination definition that characterized Christians as oppressors

Posted on February 17, 2011
University says definition will either be revised or eliminated in wake of concerns expressed in letter from ADF-allied attorney

Proposal would mandate Pledge of Allegiance in Kentucky schools

Posted on February 17, 2011
Lexington Herald-Leader: "All Kentucky public schools would have to set aside time each day for students to face the American flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance under a bill backed by Republican senators. Senate Bill 15 . . . "

Cuban pastor denounces state-levelled persecution

Posted on February 17, 2011
Christian Today: "A Baptist pastor has accused the Cuban government of deliberately targeting him and his church."

Ohio bill limits public employee unions

Posted on February 17, 2011
"Ohio Senate Republicans announced details Wednesday of a bill that would sharply limit the power of public employees to negotiate with state and local governments and institutions of higher learning, The Columbus Dispatch reported."

WI: Public employee unions protest bill that targets collective bargaining

Posted on February 16, 2011
AP: "Thousands of people descended on the Wisconsin state Capitol again Wednesday to protest a bill that would strip most public employees of their collective bargaining rights, but Gov. Scott Walker insisted he has the votes to pass the measure."

NH gov will veto right-to-work bill

Posted on February 16, 2011
Boston Globe: "New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch will veto legislation to end the practice of requiring nonunion members to pay a share of collective bargaining costs if it reaches his desk."

UK: Homosexual ?marriage? and the registration of civil partnerships in churches

Posted on February 16, 2011
Christian Today: "When it comes to equality legislation, permission often turns rapidly into coercion. In a country where faith-based adoption agencies have been forced to close or cut their religious ties by equality law, where Christian marriage registrars can be dismissed for their religious views on marriage and where Christian B & B owners are forced to pay compensation to same-sex couples, Christians will need a great deal of reassurance that the Government is not about to do something that will make their situation even worse...

Ten Commandments in school stirs fight in Va. district

Posted on February 16, 2011
Washington Post: "Nearly 12 years ago, in the aftermath of the shootings at Columbine High School, officials quietly posted the Ten Commandments on the walls of Giles County public schools. It was a natural reaction, said residents of this rural county peppered with churches, to such an alarming moral breakdown...

Abortion: Moveon.org ?Coat hanger? ad launched to fight GOP pro-life bills

Posted on February 16, 2011
The Examiner: "Why is the G.O.P. trying to send women back - to the back alley," asks actress Lisa  Edelstein,  in what will quickly become known as "The Coat Hanger" pro-abortion ad. The ad was launched today by MoveOn.org, a timely punch-back at  abortion bills, now making way through a Republican controlled House,   which conservative groups hope will protect taxpayer money from being used for funding abortion...

Univ. of Mich. charges pro-life student group unconstitutional fees for hosting Alveda King event

Posted on February 16, 2011
The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter Monday to the University of Michigan over unconstitutional fees it assessed to a pro-life student group after it sponsored a speaking event with Dr. Alveda King, the pro-life niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Utah bills would allow doctors to refuse to perform abortions

Posted on February 16, 2011
MSNBC: "A Utah lawmaker has introduced two new bills that would allow doctors to refuse to perform abortions based on religious or moral grounds. Republican Rep. Carl Wimmer of Herriman says House Bill 353 . . . "

South Dakota Bill Called ?an Invitation to Murder Abortion Providers?

Posted on February 16, 2011
Fox News: "House Bill 1171 would expand the legal definition of justifiable homicide in the state. Critics said the measure legalizes the killing of abortion providers by saying a homicide is permissible if committed by a person "while resisting an attempt to harm" an unborn fetus...

70-26 Indiana House approves marriage amendment

Posted on February 16, 2011
UPI: "The Indiana House approved the measure Tuesday on a 70-26 vote, The Indianapolis Star reported. Every Republican but one voted in favor, along with 11 Democrats."

Personhood bills introduced, gain traction across U.S.

Posted on February 16, 2011
LifeSiteNews: "Personhood bills and amendments are gaining notice and approval across the United States, with a one such bill having passed the House in North Dakota and another the Iowa House subcommittee. Georgia, Montana, Texas, and Oklahoma have also introduced personhood legislation, reports Personhood USA...

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